The Iowa plain dealer. [volume] (New Oregon, Howard County, Iowa) 1867-1895, 1887-05-19

been presented at once but for the
struggle it has cost me to separate my
self from the service to which | have
devoted all the best years of my life
and all the ability | possessed. Dur
ing the whole of that time-more than
q quarter Of a century, have expert
enced nothing but kindness from my
superiors, and the most cordial friend
ship from my comrades. To no one,
General, have been so much indebted
as to yourself for uniform kindness and
consideration. and it has always been
my ardent desire to merit your approba-
ton. l shall carry to the grave the
most grateful recollections of your
kind consideration, and your name and
fame will always be dear to me. Save in
defense ofmy state, never desire to draw
my sword. Be pleased to accept my
most earnest wishes for the continu-
ance of your happiness and prosper
ity.'"
His resignation was not accepted un-
til April 20, 1861 (Townsend, p. 31).
Yet, on the 23d day of the same April
he issued bis general orders No. from
his headquarters in Richmond, Va:
In obedience to orders from his Ex-
cellency John Letcher, Governor Of the
state, Major General Robert E. Lee as.
sumes command of the military and
naval forces of Virginia.
To US in the United States of America
this seems sudden descent from the
sublime to the ridiculous. Virginia
had neither an army or navy, and such
were forbidden to state by the Consti-
tuition which Lee had often sworn tc
maintain. (Article l, section 1O)
HIS SPHERE LOCAL ONE.
Lees sphere of action was local. HI
never rose to the grand problem which
involved a continent and future genera.
tions. His Virginia was to him the
world. Though familiar with the geogra.
ply Of the interior of this great cont.
nent, he stood like stone wall to de
fend Virginia against the .sHuns and
Goths'' of the North, and he did it like
a valiant knight that he was. He stood
at the front porch battling with thu
flames while the kitchen and house were
burning. sure in the end to consum.
the whole. Only twice. at Antietan
and Gettysburg, did he venture oursid,
on the .offense defensive. In til,
first instance he knew personally hi
antagonist, and that large fraction o
his force would be held in reserve; ii
the last he assumed the bold offensive, !
was badly beaten by Meade and force,
to retreat back to Virginia. As an az
gressiye soldier Lee was not success
and in war that is the true and prope
test. Nothing succeeds like success.
In defending Virginia and Richmon,
he did all man could. but to hin
Virginia seemed the ..Confederacy,
and he stayed there whilst the Northern
armies at the West were gaining til
Mississippi, the Tennessee, the Cumber
land, Georgia, South and North Care
lina-yea, the Roanoke. after which hi
military acumen taught him that ful
ther tarrying in Richmond was absolut
suicide.
| Such is the military hero which Ger
eral Wolseley would place in monumer
side by side with Washington. ..th
Father Of his Country-First in wal
first in peace and first in the hearts {
his countrymen." All that is good i
the character of General Robert f. lie
is ours, and we will cherish it, and v
will be charitable to his weakness. bu
SO long as the public record tells of
S. Grant and George H. Thomas we ca
not be at a loss for heroes for whom I
erect monuments like those of Nelso
and Wellington in London, well worth
to stand side by side with the one whic
now graces our Capital City of .Georg
Washington"
| | offer another name more nearly r,
sembling General Lee in person;
characteristics, General George
Thomas, probably less known in En-.
land, but who has larger followin
and holds higher place in the hear
and affections of the American peop
than General Lee. He, too, was
Virginian, and when Lee resigned frol
the army in 1861 Thomas succeede
him as colonel ofthe I'd Regular Cavalr.
A graduate of West Point of the cla
Of 1910, who had served his country
the Florida war. in the Mexican W:
and in the campaigns against hosti
| Indians, rising with honor and cred
through all the grades. at each stas
taking the usual oath to defend IL
United States against all her enemi,
whatsoever, foreign and domestic. whe
. the storm Of civil war burst on o,
country, unlike Lee, he resolved
/ stand BY his oath and to fight again
, his native state to maintain the cor
mon union Of our fathers. In persona
appearance he resembled George Was
, ington. the Father of our Country. al
, in all the attributes of manhood he W,